Fox bringing back drivers-only telecast for Talladega Xfinity race

Ryan Blaney interviewed Brad Keselowski during last year’s drivers only race. They’ll both be on the broadcast team in 2018. (Getty)

Fox’s Xfinity Series experiment with drivers as broadcasters is returning for a second season.

The network announced Thursday afternoon that its telecast of the Xfinity Series race at Talladega on April 28 would be done with Cup Series drivers. Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Joey Logano will be in the play-by-play booth, Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse will be in Fox’s on-site studio and Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Darrell Wallace will serve as pit reporters for the race.

“The fan response last year to us blending this unlikely cast of characters and their unique personalities, coupled with the drivers’ feedback, made reuniting this group a no-brainer,” Fox producer Pam Miller said in a statement. “We started talking about the next ‘Drivers Only’ broadcast as soon as the checkered flag waved in Pocono, and we’re thrilled the majority of our motley crew is back.”

The network is also continuing its practice of having Cup Series drivers serve as guest analysts for Xfinity races throughout its portion of the season. Keselowski will serve as the Cup analyst for Saturday’s season-opening race at Daytona.